BELLEVILLE — A Texas widow is suing 3M Company and nearly 20 other manufacturers and users of asbestos products, alleging failure to warn and negligence.
Katherine Smith of Channelview, Texas, individually and as representative of the heirs and estate of Eugene Smith, deceased, filed a complaint Jan. 17 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against the nearly 20 defendants, alleging they failed to exercise reasonable care and caution for the safety of others.
According to the complaint, at various times during Eugene Smith's working career that started in the 1970s, he was exposed to and inhaled or ingested asbestos fibers emanating from certain products manufactured, sold, distributed or installed by the defendants. In September 2016, Smith first became aware that he developed lung cancer which, ultimately, led to his death Jan. 20, 2017.
The plaintiff alleges the defendants negligently included asbestos fibers in their products when adequate substitutes were available and failed to provide adequate warnings and instructions concerning the dangers of working with or around products containing asbestos fibers.
Katherine Smith seeks trial by jury and compensatory and economic damages of more than $50,000. She is represented by attorneys Randy L. Gori of Gori, Julian & Associates PC in Edwardsville and by Jason M. Ministrelli and Erik P. Karst of Karst & von Oiste LLP in Spring, Texas.
St. Clair County Circuit Court Case number 19-L-0062